Lamp socket



Dec. 30, 1941.-

J.B.mCHARD$ LAMP SOCKET Filed March 18, 1941 INVENTOP, JoH/v Beuc:PlCHAED-S,

QZ T TOENE rs.

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 LAMP SOCKET John Bruce Richards, Indianapolis,Ind. Application March 18, 1941, Serial No. 383,954

7 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to electric lamp bases and base sockets, and anobject of the invention is to provide a socket which is easily, quickly,and cheaply assembled to be formed of simple elements, all of which willbeexposed to view and will be accessible by the easy removal of asurrounding skirt from a socket base.

An object also is to provide a socket into which a lamp base may beinserted merely by pressing the base into position. A further object isto cut off the current in the socket by a central shiftable contactmember automatically interrupting the circuit simplyby removal of thelamp from the socket whereby danger of shock is eliminated should achild or the like happen to insert a finger into the empty socket.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those versed in the art in' the following description of oneparticular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal sectionthrough a base structure embodying theinvention and showing a lampcarried thereby;

Fig. 2, a view of the base in similar section Starting with a base plateIn of any suitable insulating material, a spring plate II is placedthereover and then a lamp base receiving socket I2 is placed over thespring base. A bolt I3 is passed through a hole in a flange i4 laterallyprojecting from the lower end of the socket I2; through ahole in theplate II through a hole in the base plate Ill; and then axially througha spacing sleeve I5; and finally through a terminal plate I5 to receivea nut I'I thereon as a means for drawing compressibly together be- Ltween the socket I2 and plate I6 the intervening members I I, I0 and I5respectively. In the same, manner, a bolt I8 is passed through a flange.I 8 extending laterally from the side of the socket I2 opposite to thatfrom which the flange I4 extends; then through a hole in the plate, II;a hole in the base plate 5 El; and axially through a spacing sleeve 20;and through a hole l in the terminal plate I6 to receivescrew-threadedly thereon from the under side a nut 2|.

(o1. ua sszi By the use of the Various members through which thosebolts" extend are preferably aligned one with the other and joined intoone rigid' assembly The socket.

I2 may assume any desired shape such as cylindrical, conical or, as inthe present showing,

rectangular, to have its mouth flared outwardly slightly to provide forguiding a lamp base there-- within.

The socket is provided with apertures through its side wall, oneopposite the other. The spring plate II has extending therefrom (in thepresent form as integral parts thereof) a pair of,

springarms 22 and 23'from opposite sides of the plate II and are turnedupwardly to have terminal ends adjacent the aperturesin the socket I2.Between each terminal end of the spring arms 22 and 23 is positioned alamp base engaging member to be normally positioned in part at leastthrough its respective socket aperture, In the present showing, thesemembers are shown I in the form of balls 24 and 25 respectively, the

ordinary steel ball bearing serving very well for l the purpose.Preferably the upper terminal ends of the spring arms 22 and 23 arecupped to form. seats into which the balls 24 and 25 may rest. Thediameters of the balls 24 and. 25 are made to be such in reference tothe socket apertures that the ball diameters will slightly exceed. theaperture diameters whereby the spring arms 22 and 23 will seat the balls24 and 25 in those apertures without traveling therethrough but willhave portions of the balls projecting inwardly beyond the inner face ofthe socketIZ.

The spring base II has a major central opening therethrough. Likewisethe base plate Ill, which is made out of any suitable insulatingmaterial, has a central hole therethrough but smaller in extent than thehole through the spring base II. Through this central hole in the baseplate III is slidingly guided a central contact pin 26. This pin 25 isprovided with a head 21 on its upper end against which a compressionspring 28 may bear to have the pin 26 extend axially therethrough withthe spring in abutment with the base plate ID, the hole through thespring plate II being sufficiently large as to provide a clearancebetween the plate and the pin 26 and its surrounding spring 2B. To limitupward travel of the pin 25 under influence of spring 28, a stop 29, inthe nature of an annular flange, is positioned and fixed on the pin 26under the base plate It), preferably two bolts I3 and I8, the

being so positioned as to leave a portion of the pin 26 extendingtherebelow.

Mounted on the terminal plate [6 is a conductor 30. In the present formof the invention, this conductor '30 is secured to the underside of theterminal plate l6 and extends outwardly, thence upwardly and around overthe terminal plate to be spacedtherefrom, and while not necessarily so,is preferably made in the form of a spring so as to permit yieldingtravel of the conductor 30 towardthe terminal plate I6. The conductor 30is positioned to extend diametrically across the top side of theterminal plate l6 to be in the path of the pin 26. The length of thispin 26 and the spacing of the conductor 30 from the terminal plate l6are arranged in that relation whereby, the pin 26, when in its normalupper or outer position as determined by the action of the spring 28,carrying the stop 29 against the underside of the base plate Ill, therewill be'a clearance between the lower or inner end of the pin,26 andthis conductor 30, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The conductor 30 is mounted on the terminal plate vl6 by any suitablemeans, such as by the pin or bolt 3|, Fig. 1, and this bolt 3| serves asone of the terminals of the socket. Either one of the bolts l3 or I8 mayserve as the other termiterminal in the present instance.

respective terminal bolts 3| and I3.

On the terminal base I 6 is fixed a key supporting bracket 34, thebracket being turned upwardly or outwardly away from the plate H in adirection toward the base plate I0. A key 35, taking the form of theusual manual control switch employed in general in lamp sockets, has ashaft 36 revolvably carried through the bracket 34 to have a cam 31fixed thereon inside of the bracket 34. A spring 38 surrounding theshaft 36 compressibly bears by its respective ends against the outerside of the bracket 34 and a shoulder on the key 35 to maintain ashoulder on the cam 31 in sliding contact against the inner face of thebracket 34. This cam 31 is in the path of the conductor 30 and isproperly shaped to push on the conductor 36 upon suitable turning of thekey 35. to press the conductor 30 toward the insulating plate l6 awayfrom the lower end of the pin 26 even when that pin 26 is in itsinnermost position.

The entire structure above describedis preferably enclosed within asuitable shell 39, herein shown as being made of metal although thematerial may be varied as the occasion may require. This shell 39 isinserted over the structure from the socket end to straddle in part thekey 35 and to receive an enclosing cap 40, all in the usual and wellknown manner. The wires 32 and 33 are carried through the cap 46 to theterminals on the plate l6 as above described.

For use in the base socket above described, the lamp 4| is provided witha base 42 to have a shape conforming to that of the socket l2, a rec-.

tangular shape being indicated in the present showing. Since the socketI2 is, in the present instance, slightly tapered from its outwardlyflared mouth to a smaller section at its inner end,

the base 42 is likewise tapered to fit therein but the grooves 43 are sopositioned that when the base is inserted into the socket [2 asufficient distance to have its under end push the pin 26 inwardly intonormal contact with the conductor 30, the balls 24 and 25 will be urgedinto engagement within the grooves 43, on opposite sides of the base, byreason of the spring arms 22 and 23 urging the balls theretoward. Theouter end of the base 42 is provided with the usual center terminal 44insulated from the metallic Wall of the base. This center terminal 44bears against the head 21 of the pin 26, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Now when the key 35 is in the off position, as indicated in Fig. 1, andthe lamp 4| is held in the socket l2, as above indicated, the pin 26will then be compressibly bearing against the conductor 36 so that acircuit is completed from the wire 32, through the conductor 36, pin 26,lamp terminal 44, the lamp filament (not shown) which is interconnectedbetween the base wall 42 and the terminal 44, the lamp base wall 42,socket 12 or balls 24, 25, arms 22, 23, the spring base H, bolt l3, andwire 33. When it is desired to break that circuit without removing thelamp 4|, the key 35 maybe turned to carry the cam 3'1 around to pushdownwardly on the conductor to carry that conductor away from contactwith the pin 26,

Should the key be turned back to that p0 sition wherein the conductor 30bears'against the pin 26, and then the lamp 4| be removed from thesocket [2, the pin 26 will have traveled to its outer position to haveits lower end removed from contact with the conductor 36. Under thiscondition, one may insert his finger within the socket l2 against thepin 26 without closing any circuit thereby since the pin 26 is removedfrom the conductor 36. Thus the socket becomes shock-proof when the lampis removed. It is to be seen that the lamp may be simply inserted in thebase by pressure and may be removed therefrom by pulling it out, allwithout having to rotate the lamp. 7

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the oneparticular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed,such, for example, as the particular formation or shape of the basesocket, the various individual elements in that socket and the like, allwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore donot desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations asmay be imposed by the followin laims.

I claim: 1

1. For an electric lampbase having an indentation in its side wall and acentral base contact, the combination of a socket having a shape adaptedto receive said base slidingly therein and having an aperture in itsside; a spring pressed member entering said aperture for engagement insaid base indentation as a means for detachably retaining the basewithin the socket; a pin insulated from said socket and slidingly guidedaxially of said socket; spring means normally positioning said pin to becontacted by said base contact when the base isretained in the socket;and an electric conductor in the path of said pin and contacted therebyupon travel of the pin in opposition to pressure of said spring means asoccasioned by said base contact being pressed against the pin uponpushing the base into said socket, said pin being normally carriedbysaid spring means out of contact with said conductor upon removal of thelamp base from the socket; and manually operated switch means interruptsaid socket, said switch means including a member in the path of saidconductor to move the conductor from contact with said pin when saidbase is carried in said socket.

2. For an electric lamp base having an indentation in its side wall anda central base contact, the combination of a socket having a shapeadapted to receive said base slidingly therein and having an aperture inits side; a spring pressed member entering said aperture for engagementin said base indentation as a means for detachably retaining the basewithin the socket; a pin insulated from said socket and slidingly guidedaxialand an electric conductor in the path of said pin and contactedthereby upon travel of the pin in opposition to pressure of said springmeans as occasioned by said base contact being pressed against the pinupon pushing the base into said socket, said pin being normally carriedby said spring means out of contact with said conductor upon removal ofthe lamp base from the socket; and manually operated switch meansinterrupting an electric circuit between said conductor and said pinwhen said lamp base is carried in said socket; said conductor consistingof a leaf spring member, and said switch means comprising a cam adjacentsaid member and an operating key for rocking the cam to shift the springmember. 3. For an electric lamp base having an indentation in its sidewall and a central base contact, the combination of a socket having ashape adapted to receive said base slidingly therein and having anaperture in its side; a spring pressed member entering said aperture forengagement in said base indentation as a means for detachably retainingthe base within the socket; a pin insulated from said socket andslidingly guided axially of said socket; spring means normally pouponremoval of the lamp base from the socket; I

said spring pressed member comprising a ball of larger diameter thansaid aperture; and a separate spring arm normally seating the ballagainst the perimeter of said aperture.

4. For a lamp and a base on the lamp having a recess therearound, asocket defined by a wall having a hole therethrough, a ball of greaterdiameter than the hole and passing partially therethrough from theoutside of the wall, resilient means holding the ball against theperimeter of the hole.

5. In an electric lamp assembly, a socket rectangular in cross sectionhaving holes in opposite walls, a ball at the outside of and of slightlygreater diameter than each hole, a'resilient finger normally seatingeach ball against the perimeter of its socket wall hole, in combinationwith a lamp and a base on the lamp rectangular in cross section formedto have a sliding fit in the socket and having a ball receiving recessin all four sides normally holding said balls out of contact with saidperimeter.

6. In an electric lamp base socket, a terminal plate; a spring conductormounted on the top side of the plate; a base plate fixed to and spacedabove the terminal plate; a socket mounted on the base plate openingoutwardly therefrom; a spring arm mounted on the base plate andextending outwardly along the outer side of said socket; said sockethaving an aperture in its wall near the outer terminal end of saidspring arm; a lamp base engaging member normally seated by said springarm against the perimeter of said aperture to have a portion of theengaging member extend within the socket; a pin axially and slidinglyextending through said base plate to be electrically insulated from saidsocket; spring means tending to urge the pin into said socket; and meanslimiting the travel of the pin under influence of said spring; said pinbeing in the path of said spring conductor to bebrought into contacttherewith upon suitable travel of the pin theretoward in opposition tosaid pin spring means, said pin normally being removed from contact withsaid conductor, and said socket and said conductor constituting opposingelectrical members; and manually operable switch means mounted betweensaid terminal and base plates to selectively depress said conductortoward said terminal plate to remove it from pin contact.

- '7. In an electric lamp socket assembly, a disk of non-electricconducting material, a second disk of like material supported from thefirst disk, a spring lever secured to the first disk and crossingbetween the disks, said spring lever being in an electric circuit, aconductor-pin passing through the second disk to contact the spring bymovement thereagainst, spring means to normally hold the pin out ofcontact with the first spring, and a lamp base socket supported from thesecond disk on the other side from the first disk, and means forshifting said spring lever relative to said pin.

JOHN BRUCE RICHARDS.

